Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Visits Los Alamos National Laboratory

Admiral James A. Winnefield, the Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff visited Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) recently. Winnefield is a four star Navy Admiral, and as Vice Chairman is the second highest-ranking U.S. military officer.

Winnefield was at LANL to receive a wide variety of classified briefings that covered the broad spectrum of national security science at LANL. Winnefield was briefed by the LANL’s senior leadership including director Charlie McMillan, and Principal Associate Directors Bret Knapp and Terry Wallace. The briefings included details of the LANL’s Nuclear Weapons Program and Global Security portfolio.

In addition to the briefings, Winnefield was given a tour of LANL’s Plutonium Facility at Technical Area 55.

As commander of Carrier Strike Group Two/Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group, Winnefield led Task Forces support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and maritime interception operations in the Arabian Gulf. Winnefield also served as commander, United States 6th Fleet; commander NATO Allied Joint Command, Lisbon; and, commander, Striking and Support Forces NATO. Winnefield also served as the commander of North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) and U.S. Northern Command (USNORTHCOM).